Hello, everyone! I’m Mina, the administrator of “Welcome Home, PORSCHE.” In response to readers who wanted to hear firsthand accounts from Porsche owners, we launched our Porsche Owners’ Files series. For installment #12, “kurumania” shares his buying experience, options, and driving review of his 2015 Porsche Macan S (early model). This is the first Macan owner review on the blog, so we hope you enjoy it.

〘Owner profile〙
・Car featured: Macan S
・Pen name: kurumania
・Family: Single, age 33
・Previous and current cars:
【Daily drivers】:
BMW X5 → Mercedes-Benz CLS 350
→ Porsche Macan S (current) + Range Rover Autobiography (current) + Lexus NX300h (work car)
【Sports cars】:
BMW Z4 (E85) → 991 Carrera S (991.1) → Ferrari 458 Spider (current) → 991 Carrera GTS (991.2) (current)
・A message to readers:
“I’d like to give you an honest, unfiltered account—including the fact that Porsches are wonderful cars, but you may still find things you don’t like once you actually own one.”

1) How I Decided to Buy a Porsche

Why I chose Porsche

The reason I chose a Porsche comes down to one thing: “I love cars.” But I’m not simply someone who likes cars.

I’ve always had a fascination with technology. From the evolution of computers to home appliances, watches, smartphones, and more, I’ve been interested in all kinds of technological advances. Somewhere along the way, I came to think of it this way:

“A car is an industrial product that brings together all the most advanced technology of its time”—and “of all the things an individual can own, a car is the one that brings together the greatest concentration of technology.”

That’s why I’m also a fan of cutting-edge motorsport, including Formula 1.

There are countless advances in automotive engineering, from metal stamping and body construction to engines (I’m particularly passionate about engines), suspension, and brakes. But I believe that a car is far more than just an industrial product.

The differences in how manufacturers integrate the latest technology, the influence of national culture, the design—cars offer a window into all kinds of things beyond the machines themselves.

I got hooked on that depth and all the enjoyment it brings.

I also want to build the skills to get the best out of a car’s performance, so I enjoy practicing at circuits and elsewhere.

I’m not a Porsche loyalist

That said, I’m not especially attached to Porsche as a brand.

Even within the Porsche lineup, there are cars I want and cars I don’t. The Macan S was simply the car that best suited my needs at the time. I also own a 911 (991), and I feel the same way about that car.

Why I chose the Macan

I used to drive a BMW X5, then switched to a Mercedes-Benz CLS 350. After that, I found myself thinking, “I’d like to get back into an SUV.” I wanted something practical for everyday use that still offered a taste of sportiness—and the Macan was announced at just the right time.

Among sporty SUVs, there was no real alternative to the Macan for me. That’s because

“The Macan is the world’s sportiest SUV (by a huge margin—even compared with the Cayenne).”

I thought the Macan was so far ahead as a performance SUV that I even felt, “I wouldn’t expect a Lamborghini Urus to beat it on a mountain road, haha.” I ordered a Macan S without hesitation.

2) Specification and Interior

Exterior and interior colors

I chose a catalog combination: a blue exterior with Luxor Beige interior. For the seats, I went with artificial leather rather than genuine leather.

The reason was simple: once you start adding options like genuine leather to a car in this class, the price of a Porsche (and its rivals, too) can just keep climbing.

I wanted to stay within a reasonable budget for the segment. (I was comparing it with midsize SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X4.)

Sport Chrono Package

I didn’t add the Sport Chrono Package, either. Of course, I think it’s worth getting if you’re considering resale value, and my friends sometimes tease me by asking, “Did you lose the clock somewhere?” Haha.

Wheels

I kept the standard 18-inch wheels instead of opting for larger ones. After driving Macan S models with 19- and 20-inch wheels, including test cars, I could clearly feel that the extra unsprung weight dulled acceleration.

Looking back, though, I think 19-inch wheels would have been a good choice. The reason is that 19 inches is the smallest size that can be fitted with sports tires. With the taller sidewalls of 18-inch SUV tires, you can feel the tire flex on mountain roads, and push too hard and understeer soon makes itself known.

Suspension

I was willing to give up some ride comfort for sportiness, so I decided I didn’t need air suspension. Air suspension seems like a good choice for a comfortable daily driver, but if you’re looking for a sportier feel, conventional coil springs seem to be the way to go.

That’s not just my opinion—the Porsche salesperson and pretty much everyone else said the same, so I assumed it was right. But the trade-off was an uncomfortable response to changes in the road surface (undulations and dips).

Other options

I bought this Macan S mainly for commuting and highway driving, so I added all the safety features, including Lane Change Assist and cruise control. I also own a separate sports car, so I focused on safety rather than sport-oriented options. (I added features such as side curtain airbags.)

Option costs

Options brought the total to around ¥2.5 million, putting the drive-away price at roughly ¥10.5 million. Porsche cars come with very few options as standard, so I think you’d need to spend about another ¥2 million to match the equipment of rival cars.

That makes it expensive…

But I do think some of that money goes toward performance. Even so, buyers compare cars within the same segment, and I believe a car has to bring everything together within its price bracket: a competitive price, comparable equipment, and outstanding driving performance.

3) The Wait for Delivery

The Macan delivery date kept slipping

I ordered the car in October and was initially told it would arrive in March, but the date kept getting pushed back. The Mercedes-Benz CLS I planned to replace with the Macan was due for inspection in August, and I placed the order because I was assured the Macan would arrive by then at the latest. Before long, though, things started looking uncertain.

Of course, delays were more the manufacturer’s responsibility than the dealership’s. Still, the salesperson’s communication was poor. They wouldn’t contact me unless I reached out first, and every time I called, they’d say, “I was just about to call you!” Haha.

Honestly, I was disappointed by the Porsche dealership’s hospitality and service at the time. In my personal experience, Cornes seems to provide more thorough staff training.

As an aside, I once heard that Japan ranked last among countries in a customer-satisfaction survey of Porsche dealerships conducted under Porsche AG’s direction (using mystery shoppers). Maybe Japanese customers have especially high expectations, but after this experience, I couldn’t help wondering whether the dealerships’ service might also be part of the problem.

When the Macan was finally delivered

In the end, the Macan didn’t arrive in time for the August inspection on my Mercedes-Benz CLS, so I had to let the CLS go first. The dealership provided a loaner—a first-generation Prius with peeling paint. They told me I’d have to pay to borrow a BMW or Audi instead, and I couldn’t help thinking:

“You’re the ones who told me the Macan would arrive in March, or by August at the very latest, before my CLS inspection. And now you’re saying I have to pay for a BMW or Audi…? I’ve seen you give other customers a Carrera or Cayman as a service loaner, haha.”

(For comparison, when delivery of the Lexus I bought last year was delayed, the dealership provided the same model I’d ordered.) I found myself thinking, “So Porsche dealerships treat younger customers and newcomers badly…” Haha.

After all that, the Macan S was finally delivered just after the Obon holiday in mid-August.

That said, I think the problems came down to the individual salesperson rather than Porsche as a whole. I couldn’t put my trust in that salesperson, so when I ordered a Carrera S six months later, I asked to be assigned someone else.

So the Macan got off to a rocky start, haha.

After-sales service mishaps

Unfortunately, there were several more mishaps with after-sales service…

① I took the car in for its first oil change. When I picked it up, I spotted several drops of oil on the driver’s and passenger’s seats.
② Someone hit my car in a coin parking lot and drove off. After repairs, I picked it up only to discover that all the data on the audio system’s hard drive had been erased. Haha.
③ After the one-year inspection, I checked the car before driving away, worried something else might have gone wrong. Sure enough, the ashtray lid was broken, so the car went straight back into the workshop. Haha.

At that point, I felt I had to raise the issue with the dealership.

After buying the Carrera S…

I later bought a Carrera S as well, but I haven’t had any particular problems with the dealership’s service. Since changing salespeople, things have been neither especially good nor bad, and I’m satisfied.

I’m not looking for over-the-top hospitality. I’m happy as long as I receive solid, dependable service. If you don’t click with your salesperson or something about their service bothers you, I think there’s no reason to hesitate to ask for someone else—or even to take your business elsewhere. Though, admittedly, that can be hard to bring up.

I’ll write more about this in a future Porsche Owners’ File review of my Carrera.

That said, after I bought another Carrera and started visiting the dealership in my Ferrari, the service suddenly seemed to change. Loaner cars for scheduled maintenance were upgraded to current-model Caymans and Carreras, for example. (I was a little surprised.)

4) What It’s Like to Own a Macan

① Engine

As an engine enthusiast, my impression of Porsche engines is that they’re meticulously engineered. I don’t often come across engines that really move me with their “wow” factor or strong, distinctive character. (That’s a different story with the flat-six engines in Porsche sports cars.)

So the Macan S’s V6 turbo didn’t leave me especially awestruck. It just felt like a solid, well-engineered engine.

② Transmission

One of the things that attracted me to the Macan S was that it’s an SUV with a dual-clutch transmission. When driving hard, you get a sense of connection you simply can’t experience in other SUVs.

On the other hand, as a daily driver, I sometimes wonder whether a PDK is the right match for a heavy SUV. For one thing, PDK doesn’t work especially smoothly with the stop-start system. When the engine stops and starts as the clutch disengages and engages, the car can feel jerky.

That may be an issue with the early models; it might have been improved after the facelift, though I haven’t been able to confirm that.

Before the Macan, I drove a Mercedes-Benz CLS. They’re in different segments, of course, but even allowing for that, I feel there’s room for improvement.

I’ve owned the Macan for three years, and it’s now covered more than 70,000 km. There are no problems with the PDK itself, but I’ve started noticing some jerkiness from the transaxle and a lurch when pulling away. (This can happen when the clutch engages abruptly and the car surges forward several times, or when you’re driving in a low gear and suddenly open the throttle, delivering a sharp burst of engine torque.)

The dealership told me the repair would cost around ¥200,000, so I’m starting to think it may be time to let the car go.

③ Handling and brakes

When it comes to SUVs, I don’t think any other manufacturer has made a car that can beat the Macan S, Macan GTS, or Macan Turbo.

There’s simply no other SUV that can match the Macan.

That said, I wouldn’t go so far as to say it can rival a sports car. It’s still a high-center-of-gravity SUV, and if you expect it to deliver too much of a sports-car experience, you may be disappointed.

It’s easy and enjoyable to drive at a decent pace on winding roads, but push beyond that and you’re reminded: “It’s still an SUV.”

Even so, its performance is more than impressive enough. Its wider track than the Audi Q5 also makes cornering more enjoyable. With its Haldex-based, front-wheel-drive layout and the engine’s weight ahead of the front axle, it naturally tends toward front-heavy understeer when driven hard.

Judge it by sports-car standards and you’ll find things to criticize; judge it as an SUV, and it scores 120 out of 100.

④ Fuel economy

It’s average. I get 7–8 km/L in town and just under 12 km/L on the highway (even driving carefully, I couldn’t keep it at 12 km/L). With a mix of normal driving and highway use, I’d say it gets around 10–11 km/L.

I have no complaints about fuel economy, but the Macan’s fuel tank feels small for an SUV of this type (65 liters). So while fuel economy itself is average, the small tank means more frequent stops at the pump, which can make it feel less efficient.

⑤ Ride comfort and driving feel

Because it’s tuned for sportiness, the ride feels very flat, and the suspension is noticeably firmer than in other SUVs. I also think the Macan’s ride is too stiff for the performance it offers.

Its body is naturally stiffer than those of other manufacturers’ SUVs, but even so, it can’t absorb a bump in one go the way a Carrera does. Road undulations continue to make themselves felt.

It’s fine on the highway, but small bumps in town, old asphalt, and rough roads can make for a fairly uncomfortable ride.

That’s with the thick tires on 18-inch wheels, so it may be even more noticeable with 20- or 21-inch wheels. In that respect, air suspension would probably improve things.

At higher speeds, road and wind noise also make the cabin’s lack of sound insulation noticeable.

⑥ Everyday usability

For a midsize SUV, it has a surprisingly wide turning circle. To make a U-turn on a road with two lanes in each direction, you need to pick your line carefully to make it in one go. I often see people using a Macan as a shopping car around town and find myself wondering, “Why choose a Macan for that kind of use?” Haha.

I imagine the Macan’s popularity in Japan has a lot to do with how successfully Porsche has built its brand.

⑦ My favorite feature

I love the rear design.

5) Options I’d Definitely Choose on My Next Porsche

I bought the Macan mainly as a commuter, so I didn’t get too caught up in options. That said, if I were choosing a Macan, I think the GTS would be the only one I’d consider (the Macan GTS wasn’t available yet when I was shopping).

By the time you add options to an S, you’re essentially at GTS territory. The GTS comes with plenty of equipment as standard, so it’s a better value—and it holds its resale value much better, too.

6) Things to Consider

All things considered, I think the Macan costs more to run than other European cars. Parts and servicing alike…

Keeping it in good shape takes a reasonable amount of money. Whether or not you buy a prepaid maintenance package, it feels like the difference is mostly whether you pay upfront or as you go.

Maybe Porsche hasn’t had as much experience building cars beyond sports cars, but there’s one basic issue: on rainy days, or after it rains, if you open the window while water is pooled on the roof, a huge amount pours into the cabin with a “SPLASH!”

When it comes to basics like channeling water away, Porsche still seems to have some catching up to do compared with the German luxury marques.

7) Overall Verdict

Who should buy a Macan?

Would I recommend the Macan to everyone? No. I’d recommend it only to people with a particular set of needs.

“You have just one car, you have a strong desire to drive it sportily, but your everyday needs leave you with no choice but to buy an SUV.”

For someone in that position, the Macan S or above is a perfect fit. I really mean that.

Because driving it on a mountain road is an absolute blast.

On the other hand, if you rarely drive mountain roads but still want a decent level of sportiness, something like the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 is probably a better choice. You don’t necessarily need a super-sporty SUV.

That’s because outside of sporty driving and brand appeal, other SUVs have the Macan beat.

With the Macan, most features that come standard on rival models are options. Add them all without compromise, and the price climbs into the territory of a higher-tier competitor—potentially changing which car you’d choose in the first place.

Maybe I feel this way because I also own a sports car, but I don’t think it makes sense to sacrifice so much just to get sportiness in an SUV.

The Macan is built with driving performance as its priority. It scores 100 for sportiness, but only 50 or 60 in other areas. As an overall package, it’s not exactly an all-rounder.

By contrast, I think the German luxury marques make cars that score around 70 or 80 across the board.

So, as I said earlier, the Macan is one I’d wholeheartedly recommend to the niche buyer who wants one car that’s an SUV first and foremost, but with sportiness as the top priority.

That said, I may be more aware of its shortcomings because I own a sports car as well. If you need one car to do everything, the Macan might be the perfect choice.

What you only learn by owning one

On a test drive before buying, all you see is the good stuff: “Of course it’s a Porsche—what a sporty car!” But after three and a half years of ownership, plenty of inconveniences start to become apparent.

And most of the things I find inconvenient are stress-free in a Mercedes, BMW, or Audi.

Still, I think those everyday compromises are all in service of performance. When it comes to SUV performance, the Macan is in a class of its own. But that’s “in a class of its own among SUVs.” It can’t beat a sports car, so you shouldn’t expect it to deliver that level of sportiness.

One last thing

In fact, I was thinking, “I’m going to sell the Macan and get something more comfortable for work,” so last fall I bought a Lexus NX300h—the complete opposite of the Macan.

I don’t expect the Lexus to be a sports car, and I have no desire to drive it that way. As soon as I get on the highway, I set the cruise control and enjoy an easy drive every day. (Comparing it with a Lexus may be a little extreme, but it’s a good reminder that BMW and Mercedes make well-balanced cars.)

Because my everyday driving is so relaxed, I find myself wanting to take the Macan out now and then… I still haven’t managed to sell it, even though that was the plan.

8) What Does Porsche Mean to You?

I’m not a Porsche fanatic or a Ferrari fanatic, haha. But I do trust Porsche when performance comes first, and before I knew it, I had ended up owning three Porsches.

Porsche fits my needs perfectly, and I’ll probably always own at least one.

What impresses me every time isn’t so much Porsche’s body rigidity as the precision of its build and fit. Ferrari and other brands also make cars with stiff bodies, but Porsche is in a league of its own when it comes to the rigidity of its suspension connections and other components. That may be what impresses me most when I drive a Porsche.

I’ll talk more about that in my Carrera review.

〘A note from the blog administrator〙
Kurumania’s Macan review was incredibly helpful. It was packed with the kind of real-world insight you can only gain from ownership—not just a test drive. When choosing a car, I think it’s important to be clear about what you want from it: brand prestige, sporty performance, everyday practicality, or something else. The same car can be judged very differently depending on those priorities. This review also reminded me just how many layers there are to choosing the right car. Thank you, Kurumania!